First engagement exercise was when Jett's head came up, click and treat. When I treated, I said GOOD BOY and pat him. I did this after every time I click and treated Jett. This was the beginning of an engagement exercise I will explain in steps. Click and treat is when you mark a behavior you like with a clicker, and reinforce that behavior with a treat. When Jett started to keep his head up and not smell the outside carpet that had a lot of dog smell since this is a dog training room. We then gave Jett a 5-10 minute rest while Kellie explained what we did and explained what we will do. Got Jett out for the next session. Our next criteria was for me to stand by Jett, then walk to his tail, As soon as he shows any indication of looking back, click and treat. We did a few repetitions of that. Then Kellie had Jett and I walking one direction and then I walked a couple of steps to Jett's tail. When he turned his head back to me, click and treat. He really started to turn his head toward me. We did a few repetitions of this and he was engaged in this activity, following me more and less interested in the enticing floor with doggy smell.
I was realy pleased with Jett's engagement. He was happy and getting into the fun. He enjoyed doing these activities. I think me patting him and having more voice really helped him. I tend to be quiet because I focus too much. So getting my animated for Jett really helped.
Our next exercise was to start doing the touch. Thus, touching the hand. I have trained this as a pup. We did basi touch to the hand because what we wanted to do is raise the hand. So I would hold out my hand and raise it slightly, then do the touch exercise. We did the palm open since Jett was a little confused with me holding my hand as a fist. We will work more on this to eventually raise my hand so he eventually hops up to my hand.
Then we did the flirt pole. A small little stuffed animal attached to a whip. I have one at home as I have done some flirt pole exercises. It was pleasing to see Kellie saw the drive in Jett, but she taught me better steps. I kept wanting to do tugs, and Jett wasn't ready yet. We still need to build a bit better the prey drive. Don't whip the whip around in a crazy fashion but have it so Jett chases the prey. We need to have him catch it with his mouth and if he let's go, have the prey run again. Let him catch it and don't go too fast, I could see his drive a bit better focused and willing. He has done this exercises, but it just didn't work. It wasn't time yet. Now, I think it is time to build and to do it gradually in a systematic way. Since I have had other trainers try and tried several other techniques, sometimes a certain way works better. So unless you meet and see the dog, you really can't give your opinion how to do it.
I am really happy about this. I have been down that he didn't have a lot of play in him, he does, he just needed a better step to get him there.
I really liked Kellie's lesson. It has given me hope that we are moving where we need to go. I have hope. Now I have things to practice!!!
